With The 15th Pick In The MHR Community Mock Draft....

WE HAVE A TRADE!!!

This time, it is a trade among friends, so to speak.  The Detroit Lions(TBell61) have agreed to a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers(R8rH8r).  Of course, in reality, Lions HC Rod Marinelli coached under Monte Kiffin in Tampa so a trade like this could happen.  Below are the details --

Tampa Gets - #15 Overall
Detroit Gets - #20, #83, #178

The view of the G.M.'s --

Detroit(tbell61) -- For the Lions, a team with multiple needs, this is all about collecting extra picks, especially in light of not having a compensatory pick anywhere in the draft.  We believe we can get a player who can help us at # 20, and now we have two additional picks.

Tampa(R8rH8r) -- There are two driving factors behind this trade:  (1) Tampa Bay needs to reload at WLB and (2) Outside of Keith Rivers, the draft class is incredibly thin at the position.  To get this done, I was willing to invest multiple picks to move as high as pick #6.  After Rivers slipped past New Orleans, Detroit was the first team which I considered a strong candidate to grab the top linebacker.  I was unable to complete a deal with Chicago and settled on pick #15.   My failure to move higher in the draft was serendipitous considering that Rivers slipped to me at #15.

With the 15th Pick, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and R8rH8r select...

KEITH RIVERS, LB - USC

G.M. - R8rH8r -- With the unexpected emergence of DT Jovan Haye (2005 6th-round) and sack-leader DE Greg White (Texans 2002 7th-rounder), the Bucs boast one of the league's most formidable front sevens.   At age 35, Derrick Brooks enters his 14th season in the NFL.  After an illustrious--possibly Hall of Fame--career under legendary coordinator Monte Kiffin, Brooks is losing a step and will likely retire in the next two years.  In OLB Keith Rivers, Tampa Bay has reloaded at WLB for years to come.  Rivers is already a high-character, intelligent player with great athleticism.  Recently, he clocked under 4.6 seconds in the 40 yard dash and leaped an incredible 42 inches.  There is no question that Rivers has all the tools needed to be an elite player in the NFL for years to come.  With at least a year to learn from one of the all-time greats at his position, Rivers will be in great hands in Tampa.  Given the lack of depth at the linebacker position in this year's draft, a player of Rivers caliber is an absolute steal at #15 overall.

The Draft So Far --

#1 - Miami Dolphins - DE Chris Long, Virginia
#2 - St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long, Michigan
#3 - Atlanta Falcons - DT Glen Dorsey, LSU
#4 - Oakland Raiders - RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas
#5 - Philadelphia Eagles(via Trade w/ K.C. Chiefs) - DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio St.
#6 - New York Jets - DB Leodis McKelvin, Troy St.
#7 - New England Patriots - CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Tennessee State
#8 - Baltimore Ravens - QB Matt Ryan, Boston College
#9 - Cincinnati Bengals - DT Sedrick Ellis, USC
#10 - New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins, USF
#11 - Buffalo Bills - WR Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
#12 - Minnesota Vikings(via trade with Denver) - DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
#13 - Carolina Panthers - OT Ryan Clady, Boise St.
#14 - Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
#15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Keith Rivers, USC

The Next 5 Picks -

#16.  Arizona (8-8) -- Broncofornia
#17.  Denver (7-9) -- EJRuiz777
#18.  Houston (8-8) -- Orangeman
#19.  Kansas City (4-12) -- jonnyr44
#20.  Detroit (7-9) -- tbell61